refugium help

[mountaindew]

I have my tank set up and running.I want to make sure I have my refuge tank set up correctly.In the first section I have the overflow box running into it and then the pump in there is coming out to a diffuser into the main tank.Middle section is empty,just water,last section I have the skimmer hooked upto a pump and that is it.It seems that im missing something like another pump in where the skimmer is,am I correct in that

 

[Jan]

how are you returning water to the main tank?

 

[mountaindew]

thats the problem.I not sure I am.I think I have the hoses hooked up wrong.In the first section the overflow box is going into it and the pump is taking it out and back into the tank.I think thats where my hoses are backwards

 

[mmkeeper]

Your return pump should be in the last chamber returning the water after skimming.

 

[Jan]

I have to do a sump/skimmer setup myself this weekend and I've been trying to think it through. The simple design that I have in mind has the drain from the overflow box feeding the first section of the sump (skimmer)...which in turn should flow into the second chamber which might be your return chamber (with return pump in there) or it might be the refugium.

Skimmer --> return <-- refugium
Skimmer -->refugium --> return

There's a lot of other designs of course. Try doing a search on Melsreef.com for more info.

 

[mountaindew]

so should I have two pumps in the third chamber and none in the first.so that would be one pump hooked to the skimmer and the other pump taking the water back upto the main tank

 

[jnarowe]

melevsreef.com is a good place for some basic sump design. A picture would be helpful so that others can see what it all looks like.

 

[Krish]

The overflow will just drain into your sump on the input side. No pumps bring water into the sump/refugium...Just gravity. The last chamber, there should be a return pump that will suck water out of that chamber and return it to the tank so the water can circulate. Here's an animation on the bottom of this page to explain it. See if that helps, but like already suggested, a pic would help

http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

 

[Haole]

Can you fit your skimmer or at least the skimmer pump in the first chamber where the water from your overflow is entering? That would be the best arrangement by having your protein skimmer receiving the water that is coming directly from your surface skimming overflow in your display tank.

 

[Meche]

so should I have two pumps in the third chamber and none in the first.so that would be one pump hooked to the skimmer and the other pump taking the water back upto the main tank

no, you may end up with bubbles in your tank if you have the skimmer dumping into the same section that your return pump is supplied from.

A picture would be helpful so that others can see what it all looks like.

I concure

Can you fit your skimmer or at least the skimmer pump in the first chamber where the water from your overflow is entering? That would be the best arrangement by having your protein skimmer receiving the water that is coming directly from your surface skimming overflow in your display tank.

Without a picture it's hard to say for sure, but it should be much better and easier to just move the overflow hose to the skimmer compartment.

 

[Haole]

Without a picture it's hard to say for sure, but it should be much better and easier to just move the overflow hose to the skimmer compartment.

Doh... Why didn’t I think of that! :lol:

 

[mountaindew]

problem solved.switched pumps and hoses

 

[Krish]

Sounds good

 

[returnofsid]

I'd recommend skimming in the very first chamber. The reason for this is that it allows you to skim the water as it's leaving your display tank. It's mostly display surface water at this point and the best water to skim. The middle chamber is where you'd want your refugium set up. The last chamber is where you want your return pump. I've been in the process of setting up a sump/refugium as well and have had a lot of great advice from people on this forum. Here's a link to my thread on a sump/refugium. There's a lot of pic/diagrams there too. Keep in mind that some of the pics aren't what's wanted. If you read through the thread, you'll see what I mean. Haole posted some pics in my thread and one of them is exactly how I'm going to build mine. Haole's last drawing from 01-27-2007 04:27 PM is the one I'm referring to.

 

[Jan]

Oops...Sid...no link?

 

[Meche]

link

I'll give you ten characters!

 

[mountaindew]

thats what I did.skimmer in 1st,return in the last chamber